The children of Cuban refugees hailing from Florida, Nuclear Valdez was an anomaly, playing guitar-based rock & roll in an area better known for dancebeat music. Led by lead singer/guitarist Froilan Sossa, Nuclear Valdez churned out a fairly potent mix of rock tinged with folk and ethnic elements on their 1989 debut I Am I. Lyrically, the band often addresses the plight of ethnic minorities in South Florida as on the bracing singles"Summer" and"Where Do We Go from Here." Unfortunately, the lyrics are often clumsy and a bit heavy-handed, which dilutes their message. There's no shortage of melody, however, as the band ranges from the bluesy"If I Knew Then," to the hip-swaying shuffle of"Eve," to the lovely, folk-tinged"Run Through the Fields." I Am I is an intriguing record that hints at further growth.